Winning the NFC West was out of reach for the Los Angeles Rams coming into Monday Night Football on the road against the Atlanta Falcons. They looked like a team that did not have much to play for. The Rams were upset 24-27 by Atlanta. It was a shocking result that currently puts LA in the sixth seed in the NFC playoff picture.
We can look forward to the regular season finale in time. For now, let’s review the individual contributions that led to this surprising result in primetime.
Winners
Jared Verse & Special teams
I’ll start off by saying this wasn’t a defensive outing that Jared Verse will be proud of. He missed several tackles and did not do his part to slow down Bijan Robinson and the Atlanta rushing attack.
However, his blocked field goal and return for a touchdown completely flipped the momentum and gave the Rams life in a game they really didn’t have any business contending in. According to NextGen stats, Verse eclipsed 20 miles per hour on his run back. For comparison, Kyren Williams clocked in at 17 MPH during a long catch and run in the second half. Verse’s listed weight is 65 pounds heavier.
Let’s also give kudos to the Rams’ new special teams coordinator, Ben Kotwica. I was pessimistic that a late-season change from Chase Blackburn would actually make a difference. At this point we only have a single game to go off of, and for one of the first times all season special teams was a strength rather than a weakness. We will see how long this lasts. This issue truly may not get fixed until the offseason, and it’s a problem that has haunted Sean McVay’s tenure.
Terrance Ferguson, TE
When the ball is thrown in Terrance Ferguson’s direction, good things happen. The rookie hauled in two long catches that went for 27 yards a piece. He also scored third touchdown of the season.
Ferguson has seemingly become the preferred red zone option in Davante Adams’ absence, and his experience over this stretch should only pay dividends if/when Adams returns for the postseason. He’s had multiple scores reversed or called back by penalty in recent weeks. The arrow is clearly pointing up.
Emmanuel Forbes, CB
I wasn’t sure if the Rams corners could hang with a large Falcons receiving corps. This was not the matchup that made the difference in this game. LA held Drake London to only a single reception for four yards. David Sills was the team’s leading receiver at just 37 yards.
Forbes was targeted often and allowed a few catches for longer yardage; however, he forced another pass breakup (for his fourth-straight game) and the ball felt incomplete in his direction more often than it was completed. Forbes brought a rare physicality that we don’t often see from the secondary.
The only corners under contract for the Rams into 2026 are Forbes, Josh Wallace, and Darious Williams. Williams is not likely to be back. Forbes has earned a shot to stick around next year, although he should compete for a starting role.
Losers
DJ Humphries, LT
Humphries will land on Puka Nacua’s “naughty” list. The veteran was called for penalties that negated two scores by the star receiver, though he still found the end zone on Monday night.
The decline from Alaric Jackson to Humphries was stark and evident from the jump. Humphries was signed this offseason while Jackson’s status was uncertain surrounding his blood clotting issue. We should appreciate the fact that Jackson was healthy for most of this season and this was our first extended look at Humphries.
Matthew Stafford, QB
Stop me if you’ve heard this before:
The Rams lost a game they shouldn’t have to an NFC South opponent and Matthew Stafford turned the ball over three times, including a pick-six. These are common threads between the Rams’ losses to the Carolina Panthers and Falcons. Stafford’s Monday meltdown likely cost him the MVP race and LA’s shot at the fifth seed.
The Rams will always be dangerous with Stafford at the helm; however, the veteran’s propensity to run hot and cold could ultimately be the team’s undoing. This explains both how they’ve suffered shocking losses (Eagles and Seahawks) and almost completed improbable comebacks themselves (49ers and Falcons).
What the Rams need from Stafford is consistency. Can he go on a hot steak like he did enroute to a Super Bowl victory in 2021?
Ahkello Witherspoon, CB
The Rams made a change at corner ahead of this game. Ahkello Witherspoon was active for the first time in weeks while Darious Williams was a healthy scratch. Witherspoon did not do much to reward the team’s confidence in him. He often looked unwilling to tackle, which was a stark comparison to Forbes on the other side of the field.
Quentin Lake’s return for the playoffs would ideally send Witherspoon to the bench. This would allow the team to play Cobie Durant outside full-time as he wouldn’t need to split reps in the slot. Josh Wallace will have a role inside if/when he returns to health as well.
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